Author Archives: Steve Simms

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About Steve Simms

I like to look and think outside the box. In college I encountered Jesus Christ and I have been passionate about trying to get to know Him better ever since. My wife and I long to see the power and passion of the first Christ-followers come to life in our time. I have written a book about our experiences in non-traditional church, called, "Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible--Ekklesia." If you need encouragement, search for: Elephants Encouraging The Room and/or check out my Amazon author page. Thank you!

Biblical Christianity / Following Christ

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Steve Simms

Following the living, resurrected Jesus Christ (biblical Christianity / Jesus’ command to: “Follow Me.”) is about: Self-surrender, not self-assertion; Self-control, not self-fulfillment; Self-denial, not self-righteousness; Self-restraint, not self-indulgence; Self-discipline, not self-destruction; Self-sacrifice, not self-importance; Self-effacement, not self-promotion; Self-regulation, not self-interest; … Continue reading →

Posted in biblical Christianity, Christ followers, cross, deny yourself, Follow Me., Jesus, Jesus Christ, quotation, quote, Quotes, Real Christianity, self-asscertion, self-assertion, self-control, self-denial, self-destruction, self-discipline, self-effacement, self-esteem, self-focus, self-fulfillment, self-help, self-image, self-importance, self-indulgence, self-interest, self-justification, self-mastery, self-promotion, self-regulation, self-respect, self-restraint, self-righteousness, self-sacrifice, self-surrender, selfish desires, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual training, spiritual transformation, spiritual walk, take up your cross | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

The Historical Jesus Can Be The Present-Day Jesus

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Steve Simms

Study and religion tend to keep Jesus tucked away in the past, as a historical figure.  However, we desperately need Him to be living and working in the present, not stuck in the past. The world needs Jesus’ presence, His … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Christ, church format, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, contemporary, contemporary church, contemporary society, glory, glory of God, God calling, God with us, hearing God, hearing Jesus, hearing the Holy Spirit, how to hear God's voice, Western society, Western world | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

See The Holy Spirit Work A Room!

Posted on July 28, 2013 by Steve Simms

The Holy Spirit can work a room, moving from person to person, lighting faces and enlightening hearts and minds.  That’s what He wants to do when we Christians gather for worship.  All we have to do is loosen up our … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, church history, church meetings, Hell, Holy Spirit, how to, how to work a room, Nashville, not called did you say?, organic church, Protestant Reformation, Quench not the Spirit, Quotations, quote, Quotes, revival, sinner, sins, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual awakening, spiritual fire, spiritual movement, The Salvation Army, work a room | Tagged , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Church — Spirit-Directed Team or Laid Back Audience?

Posted on July 27, 2013 by Steve Simms

Is church a Spirit-directed team that ministers to one another? Or a laid back audience that watches a religious program? (Search: “One another verses of the New Testament” and see.) If you live in the Nashville, Tennessee area, come and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Bible study, biblical, Biblical concept, Nashville, one another, one anothers, pray for one another, praying community, Team Church, Team Jesus, Tennessee, the way we do church, the Western church, What is church?, What is the true church?, worship, you can all prophesy | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Church — Spiritual Training Camp? Or Spectator Religion?

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Steve Simms

Like an NFL Training Camp, church should be hands-on training — not passive lecture. Through rigorous involvement and interaction, church should train believers in the spiritual skills and attitudes necessary to make a powerful, victorious, and godly impact in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bishop Charles H. Mason, COGIC, dodge ball, game of life, God, God calling, God experiment, God is truly among you, God with us, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, lecture, NFL, organic church, Paul of Tarsus, prompting of the Spirit, quotation, quote, Quotes, science, science lab, simple church, Spirit's flow, Spirit-filled, Spirit-prompted, spiritual athletes, spiritual training, spiritual transformation, Train yourself unto godliness., training camp, voice of God | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Real Measure Of A Church

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Steve Simms

What if the real measure of a church is: Not size, but surrender to God; Not coolness, but compassion; Not preaching, but participation; Not programs, but the power and Presence of God; Not bragging, but brokenness; Not the offering, but … Continue reading →

Posted in brokenness, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church services, cool church, heart, heart of worship, heart-felt, humility, kinds of church, Nashville, Nashville church, non-church, non-traditional church, organic church, participators, participatory church, user friendly | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Frustrated With Preaching? Try Sermon-Free Church

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Steve Simms

I (the sermon-free church guy) love to preach. I miss preaching. I preached regularly on Sunday mornings for about 10 years. However, I got frustrated with preaching because I was growing spiritually, but I didn’t see much spiritual growth in … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church services, faith, faith-based, God's power, non-traditional church, organic church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, spiritual, spiritual formation, spirituality, the power of God, witness | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

The Real Royal Baby . . .

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Steve Simms

The Royal Baby was born just over 2,000 years ago and grew up to become the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Savior of the world. I was excited to invite people to surrender to The Real Royal Baby, the … Continue reading →

Posted in belief, British history, Christian, Christianity, Great Britain, Great Commission, Jesus, Jesus Christ, king, King of Kings, kingdom, new heir, news, rap, rapper, rapping, religion, religious beliefs, royal family, UK, United Kingdom, Viktory | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tennessee Titans & St. Thomas (From Doubt To Destiny)

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Steve Simms

The Tennessee Titans practice facility in Nashville, Tennessee (Baptist Sports Park) has been renamed “Saint Thomas Sports Park.”  St. Thomas has been known through the past two millennia as “Doubting Thomas” because he questioned the resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in angst, anxiety, Apostle Thomas, destiny, devotion, doubt, doubting, doubts, fear, India, Iraq, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus is Lord, Muslim, My Lord and my God, mysticism, Nashville church, practice facility, professional football, resurrection, Resurrection Day, resurrection of Jesus, Saddam Hussein, Saint Thomas, St. Thomas, torture, tortured | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The “I’ll Fight” Black Hoodie

Posted on July 18, 2013 by Steve Simms

As a white guy passing out flyers in a black neighborhood (Nashville’s McFerrin Park Neighborhood that has been known for drugs and violence) after the verdict of the George Zimmerman trial, I thought about Trayvon Martin.  As I put flyers … Continue reading →

Posted in Blood and Fire, Christian rap, drugs, hungry children, I'll fight!, Nashville, Nashville adventure, Nashville events, Nashville streets, prison, prisons, quotation, Quotations, quote, Quotes, racial reconciliation, racism, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvation Army Crest, spiritual warfare, streets, trial, Viktory, violence, violence in society, violent streak, While women weep, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments